Marine wildlife monitoring in Rio Grande do Sul

In late August 2026, the northern coast of Rio Grande do Sul recorded a record number of marine animal finds. The Beach Monitoring Project of the Pelotas Basin (PMP-BP) documented 793 individuals—including 698 birds, 78 mammals, and 17 reptiles—between August 17 and August 23. While most were found dead, 36 were alive. Officials noted that August had become the month with the highest number of records in 2026, though they stated current data is not yet sufficient to conclude if there is a definitive increase in mortality compared to previous years.

By late September, monitoring continued along the coast between Torres and Palmares do Sul. A sea lion sighting near the Tramandaí platform marked the 731st recorded sighting of the season. Experts from the Center for Coastal, Limnological, and Marine Studies (Ceclimar) monitored the animal, noting it appeared healthy with good fat reserves. Of the 731 sightings recorded during the season, 716 were South American sea lions and 15 were subantarctic sea lions, with 85% of the animals being young.